What type of pheonix are they? Maybe roebelenii or reclinata
http://images.google.com/images?svnu...ta&btnG=Search
Bit tall for roebelenii but maybe you got really old ones.
They suck either way and if you get stuck by them it HURTS!
Pssst, I like to prune them at ground level, tie a rope to the butt and drag them into the truck without going near them spikes.
